Apple's Next Act for the iPad

Sales Have Been Falling for Apple's Pioneering Tablet, but the iPad Still Plays an Important Role.

By

Dan Gallagher

Aug. 24, 2014 12:43 p.m. ET

Apple's next iPhone may hog the spotlight in coming weeks, but don't forget the iPad.

It is tempting to relegate Apple's tablet—its second-biggest business—to a sideshow, given stagnant growth. Unit sales have slipped in the last two quarters year over year and analysts expect a similar trend in the current period.

This is hardly peculiar to Apple. Tablet sales across the globe have slowed significantly, growing only 8.4%...